Apparatus for separating and distributing distillates



t e e h s S a e h S 2 S N I K R E P H 9 m d 0 M 0 m APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND DISTRIBUTING DISTILLATES. No. 314,715.

Patented Mar. 31, 1885'.

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(N0 Mode'L) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. PERKINS.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND DISTRIBUTING DISTILLATES.. No. 314,715. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

N. PETERS Plmwuum plm. Washi n nnnnnn c.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND DISTRIBUTING DISTILLATE S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 314,715, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed May 2, 1884. (No model.)

following is a specification.

My invention is especially designed for use in oil-refineries. although it is capable of many applications in the arts, which will be obvious when its construction is understood, and which it is not necessary to mention here. WVhen crude oil is charged to and heated in a still, its vapors are conducted through a pipe leading from the dome of the still and immersed in water. In practice this vapor-pipeis made so long that it is usuallyin the form of a worm coiled within a vessel containing the water, and of such extent that the vapors are thoroughly condensed in passing through it, and run from its discharging extremity as aliquid or distillate. The first liquid that comes from the pipe is, in common refinery parlance, called light benzine, the next heavy benzine, the next standard white oil of a given specific gravity, the next again Water white oil of another gravity, and still the next standard white oil of yet another gravity, and so on through a series of gravities until the charge in the still has been completely vaporized or reduced to tar and coke. As distillates of different gravities are refined into separate marketable products, and as they are produced in series, so to speak, continuously in the same apparatus and from the same original charge, it becomes of great importance to separate them accurately and receive the different varieties in separate and distinct vessels, so that distillates of different gravities and colors shall not become commingled.

Heretofore, asis well known to those familiar with the refining of oil, many contrivances have been resorted to for securing the accurate separation and distribution of the different distillates successively; but all of these contrivances have been imperfect, in that they either failed to successively secure the desired 1 separation or were of such form of construction as to be dangerous in practical use.

The object of my invention is the construc tion of an apparatus forsecuring the accurate separation and separate successive distribution of distillat-es of different gravities and colors.

' To the above ends my invention consists in a distributing apparatus, a preferred type of a convenient embodiment of which is hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings. the first six figuresof which represent a good form of a convenient apparatus embodying my invention, and in which Figure 7 represents a slightly modified form also embodying my invention, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the entire device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of theinclosed Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional elevation through the entire apparatus, indicating the position which the pan-outlet occupies when it is aligned with one of the distributingpipes. Fig. 4. is a similar view of the pan removed from the casing. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the pan removed from the'casing. Fig. 6 is a side elevational detail of the handle, and Fig. 7 a view similar to Fig. 3, representing a construction in which the pan proper is re placed by a curved rotatable pipe which operates in essentially the same manner that the pan operates and to the same result, all as hereinafter more fully explained. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the first six figures of the drawings, A represents a casing, preferably cylindriforrn, and inclosed by an accuratelyfitting cover-plate, B. Into the upper portion of the casing opens and discharges the distillate-pipe O, which leads from the still, in propinquity to said still is known as the vaporpipe, and in which the vapors are condensed. Fitted Within the upper portion of the casing conveniently by means of the pivot-standard a is a rotatable pan, D, of circular outline, which is adapted to be rotated within the cars ing. Rotation'of this pan is conveniently efi'ected through the instrum'entality of a vertical stem, d, which is affixed to the pan, or, more conveniently,to avertical boss, d,forn;1ed therein or attached thereto, and which is in alignment with the pivot withyespect to which the pan rotates. The stem passes through a stuffing=box, I), applied to the cover-plate and forming a bearing for said stem, and is itself conveniently rotated by a pivoted handle, E, asshown. The pan is, nearits circumference, provided with an aperture through its bottom, which I term a pan-outlet, 01*, and which is simply a preferably circular opening. This pan-outlet is surrounded or bounded as to its under edges by a small depending rim or flange, as shown in the drawings, the office of which is -to prevent the crawling of the discharging-liquid over the bottom of the pan and its dribbling thenceinto the casing. Arranged in circular series, and at a similar radial distance from the vertical axis of the casing, are agiven number of distributing-pipes, F,which. exist within the casing as upright open-topped pipes, most conveniently pass through the base of the casing,and then branch off laterally to the receiving-vessels in which the different distillates are designed to be ultimately dis charged. Exterior to the casingeach of these pipes is provided with a valve, (not shown in drawings) by which the flow through said plate, as shown in Fig. 1, provided,- for theespipes can be stopped or regulated at will, so that communication can be out off 'at will, this feature being valuable in case of a fire in. the works. The open upper extremities of these pipes are conveniently of a diameter greater than that of the pan-outlet, and their arrangement is such that upon the rotation of the pan its outlet can be successively caused to register over the open upper extremityv of each, of said pipes, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 3.

S, Fig. 2, represents ahole in. the bottom of the casing,to which is attached'what is known as a slop-line, which is not. shown in the drawings, but which is simply a distributing.- pipe similar to the distributing-pipesF, with this exception, that it has noextensionupinto the casing. The office of the slop'line is hereinafter more fully explained. The cover-plate is convenienily provided with a circumferential downwardly-depending flange, b, which registers accurately within the chine or top opening of the pan. The vapor-pipe opens within the line ofthis depending flange, which latter is for the purpose of preventing any distillate that may condense on the under side of the cover-plate from running over outside of the pan. The flange returns them to the inside of thepan.

As a means of determining the position of the pan-outlet with respect to any particular distributing-pipe or with respect to the slopline, so as to cause the accurate alignment of saidoutlet with respect to any particular pipe, the cover-plate is provided with a series of pairs of vertical stops, G, between any pair of which the handle can be caused to drop, and can be, if desired, locked by a pin, 9, so that any accidental rotation of thehandle, and consequently of the pan with which it is connected, is prevented. The stops shown are simply the most convenient devices of which I have knowledge for effecting the purpose above named; but, as will be readily understood, other stopping or looking devices may be substituted in their stead. In fact, the handle as such may be dispensed with and a handwheel, gear-Wheel, or other suitable'actuating device for the pan be substituted in its stead. In connection with each pair of stops, and as a means of indicating with which particular distributing-pipe the pan-outlet is caused to correspond when the handle is locked with respect to any particular pair of stops, the distributing-pipes are numbered, and finger-indices I in the form of flanges, containing a given number of perforations visible by day, and which may be detected by the sense of touch when the apparatus is in use at night,

are applied to the cover-plate, as represented in the drawings.

Other devices-such as numbers or pinsmay be substituted in the stead of the fingerindices 'referred to, although I consider the latter the best devices for the purpose.

J is a gas-outlet opening. from the. covercape of such fixed gases as will not, condense in an ordinary worm or condenser.

K is a removable plate, of glass, or, if desired, of metal, which covers a manhole, through which scale and dirt in the pan can be removed and the interior of the pan; inspected without removing the cover 13.

The casing, pan, and cover-plate are of such mechanical construction as. convenience of manufacture may dictate, and the casing is supported in any desired manner. It is not necessary that the distributing-pipes should pass out through the bottom of the casing, as they .may pass through its. side walls. The cover-plate is securely applied tothe casing after the pan is in place. The pan itself is formed with an overhanginginturned edge, e,

to prevent any possible escape of distillate.

The operation of the device has been already sufiiciently set forth in connection with the description of the construction. Suffice it to say that when the pan is locked in a given position with respect to any distributing-pipe, distillate fed into it can discharge through but one distributing-pipe, so that it is impossible for a distillate of a given gravity to become commingled with a distillate of a different gravity, the pan being locked so as to cause the alignment of its opening with that distributing-pipe only which leads to the receiving tank for the particular distillate for the time being being fed. When the. still runs a quality of distillate requiring redistillation, and not proper to be received through any of the regular distributing pipes or lines, as may occur when the fire gets too. hot, the pan is shifted so that its outlet is aligned over the opening of the slop-line, and the distillate run off through said slop-line. The same set of the pan is resortedv to when, as is usual before starting the still, water is put through the 'worm, the water being run off through said slop-lines. Again, the slop-line .is em- ICO IIO

ploy'ed when an obstruction occurs of such character as to dam up any particular dis-- tributing-pipe and to cause the backing up of the liquid in said pipe and its overflow from the extended top thereof into the casing, in which event the overflowed liquid simply runs off through the slopline and cannot en ter any of the other distributinglines.

The valves in the various distributing-pipes are always all kept closed, except the one into which the pan is for the time being en'iptying, and except'the valve in the slop-line. This is necessary, because the distillate, when passing through the apparatus, is hot and throwing off more or less gas, which would communicate to the other pipes, and, condensing to the extent of the condensed liquid, mix the products. The valves, however, are principally employed as a safeguard against confiagration and to prevent fire from communicating from one line or tank to another. They are, therefore, safety appliances rather than anything else, although, as stated, they perform a good office in preventing the gases of one distillate from mixing and condensing with the gases of another distillate in another line. The closed casing around the pan prevents the escape of gases except through the gas-outlets provided for the purpose, which leads to a safe distance and delivers the gas for utilization. By this arrangement all danger from fire is avoided.

In the modified form of construction rep"- resented in Fig. 7 the distillate-pipe G is arranged to open and discharge centrally with respect to the cover-plate of the casing and into a crooked pipe, Q, which is adapted by means of a rotatable stem. q, upon which said pipe is suspended, and which passes up through a hearing or stuffing-box in the vapor-pipe, to be rotated with respect to the various distributing-pipes F, so that its discharging-nozzle can be held with respect to any one of said distributingpipes in the same manner that the pan-outlet of the pan can be. The crooked pipe is adapted to berotated by means of a pivoted handle, E, connected with the stem q, and adapted to be operated and secured in given positions, as in the case of the handle heretofore described with respect to the rotatable pan D. This arrangement is essentially a mechanical equivalent for the pan described, and differs from it in no respect as to its mode of operation. A gas-outlet, J, is represented in this figure as applied to the cover-plate of the casing. If desired, however, the gas-outlet may be arranged to branch out from the distillate-pipe,the dischargingorifice ofwhich latter is arranged to open within the receiving-throat of the crooked pipe Q, as shown in the drawings.

The proportions of the casing in the modified construction of Fig. 7 are somewhat dif ferent from the proportions represented in the other figures; but these proportions may be modified, as any mechanic will understand,

without affecting either the principle or the mode of operation of the invention.

To sum up: The crooked pipe is essentially the equivalent of the pan provided with the outlet, the receiving-throat of said pipe performing the office of the pan in receiving the distillates, and its discharging-orifice performing the office of the pan-outlet in discharging the received distillate into any given d-istributingpipe.

Having thus described any invention, I claim 1. In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted upon the rotation of the pan to register with respect to any given distributingpipe, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes and a slopline pipe, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted upon the rotation of the pan to register with respect to any given distributing-pipe.

3. In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted upon the rotation of the pan to registerwith respect to any given distributing-pipe, and means for causing the rotation of the pan, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with an inclosed casingprovided with distributing-pipes, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted upon the rotation of the pan to register with respect to any given distributingpipe, means for causing the rotation of the pan, and means for securing the pan fixedly in given positions, substantially as set forth.

s In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes, a distillateinlet pipe and a gas-outlet, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted to register with any one of the distributing-pipes into which pan said distillate-pipe discharges, substantially as set forth.

6'. In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes and a slopline pipe, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted to register with any one of the distributing-pipes or with theslop-line pipe, into which pan said distillate-pipe discharges, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes, a distillateinlet pipe and a gas-outlet, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted to register with any one of the distributing-pipes, into which pan said distillate-pipe discharges, and means for rotating the pan, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with an inclosed casing provided with distributing-pipes, a distillateinlet pipe and a gas-outlet, a rotatable pan provided with an outlet adapted to register with any one of the distributing-pipes into IIO which pan said distillate-pipe discharges, Iflangab, and therotatable pan provided with 0 means forrotatingthe pan, and means forloekthe intnrned edge e, substantially as and for ing' the pan in different positions, substanthe-purposes set forth. tially as set forth. In testimony whereoflhaveherennto signed 9. In combination with the inolosed casing, my name this 29th day of April, A. D. 1884. the rotatable pan, the handle and stops, and GEORGE H. PERKINS. the finger-indices, substantially as set forth. In presence of' 10. The combination of the casing having 0. B. TAYLOR, a cover-plateprovided with a depending J. BONSALL TAYLOR. 

